Serengeti Migration Camp is a tented camp, tucked in amongst a group of kopjes in northern Serengeti. The camp has a neat colonial feel, yet it is also very open and rustic. It has managed to maintain a balance between being natural and in touch with its surroundings, whilst also having a very stylish edge.
As you arrive, you walk down a wooden walkway to reach the main reception and lounge area. This is all housed within one large structure, which is partially canvas and partially stone. One side of this is totally open, which gives it a lovely breezy and outdoorsy feel. Then the large comfortable leather sofas, and hand crafted bronze statues result in a old-style colonial air to the camp. The swimming pool sits just below this lounge area.
The tented rooms at Serengeti Migration Camp are raised on platforms – they are spacious and comfortable. Perhaps the only negative with these rooms is that some are relatively close together, so you can occasionally hear your neighbours. (Read more about the tents at Serengeti Migration Camp…….)
Activities centre around exploring the park by 4WD. You can do this by arriving with your own private vehicle and guide, and heading out with them daily on your safari activities.
Alternatively, Serengeti Migration Camp has three resident guides and its own vehicles. They usually run morning and an afternoon game drives. Though you could also head out with a packed lunch for a full day safari as well. This will give you the chance to explore further and deeper into the park.
This northern area of the Serengeti is especially exciting to visit during the months of July and August, or possibly around November, when the great wildebeest migration is likely to be in the area. If the Serengeti migration isn't near camp, then you'll probably have to drive about 20km to the Lobo Kopjies in order to find reliably good game-viewing. Of course, being quite far north in the Serengeti, there's usually a delightful lack of other vehicles around here.
The service at Serengeti Migration Camp is certainly friendly, but when we were last there we felt that it wasn't as smooth as the camp's price tag might suggest it should be. Furthermore, we felt that the food was bland and unimaginative. (See further food comments below.)
Migration Camp has the feel and the price tag of a top-quality property, and the camp is certainly very picturesque. It is open and rustic, yet very comfortable with a colonial style. But we felt that the service and the food needed to be improved to match the standards that we had expected here.
Ideal length of stay: To fully explore this area, it is worth spending 3 nights at Serengeti Migration Camp. However, spend any more time than this and you may find the driving routes a little repetitive.
Central facilities: The central areas at Serengeti Migration Camp are all decorated in a similar style. Smart leather furniture is dotted around, the walls are pained a deep burnt orange, the ceilings are canvas, and there are pieces of beautiful art dotted around. The over all result is rustic and colonial, yet very stylish.
The main lounge is set upon a highly polished wooden deck and is totally open at the front for views across the Lobo River. Then the back wall is a deep burnt-orange colour, which makes the area feel cosy regardless of its openness.
On the back wall are a number of wildlife photos, then placed on the various coffee tables and side tables, are wonderful bronze sculptures. Artistically designed standing lamps, and plenty of sumptuous leather sofas add to the stylish colonial feel of the camp.
Set along a stone pathway is the dining area, which like the lounge has a total open front, with views across the river. Guests dine separately here; with a bit of luck, you might be able to get a table outside on the veranda.
Adjacent to the main lounge is the Cigar Bar which is a welcoming little lounge area, with a stone roof. It's a comfortable, quiet and cosy place to relax. Persian rugs are spread across the floor and there are vast leather armchairs to snuggle in to. You will even find a working record player.
Immediately above the cigar bar is the camp's Sunset Deck - a vast wooden deck, with a fireplace and a number of directors' chairs. Guests tend to gather here in the evenings to watch the sunset over the Lobo River, whilst enjoying a drink from the bar.
In front of the main lounge area, is Serengeti Migration Camps swimming pool with a number of loungers set around it. The pool area also has a shaded deck, from where you can lounge and look out over the trees and Lobo River.
Directions: Serengeti Migration Camp is 20 kilometers from Lobo airstrip – this is a 45 minute drive.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
Usual board basis: Full Board
Food quality: The food at Serengeti Migration Camp is ample and the ingredients are fresh, though when we last visited in September 2007 – we felt that it was bland and unimaginative.
Breakfast is an extensive spread, with fresh bread, cereal, yogurt and fruit. There is also a cooked breakfast option – with a choice of eggs. There is always a number of fresh fruit juice options, as well as tea and coffee.
Then for lunch, you can either take a packed lunch to eat whilst you are out in the bush or come back to the camp. The packed lunch usually consists of sandwiches, some fruit and an additional snack such as a piece of cake. If you decided to head back to the camp for lunch, there is often a buffet style lunch on offer with salads, curries, rice, pasta salads and cold meats.
Dinner is then a three-course meal, with a couple of options for each course. When we were last there, we had a soup starter, grilled chicken and vegetables for the main course, and then a fresh fruit salad for desert. It was perfectly adequate, even if the chicken was dry and overcooked, but we had expected something better.
Dining style: Inidividual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Room service: Yes.
Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included
Drinks included: Drinks are included except for champagne, cellar wines and imported spirits.
Special interests
Wildlife safaris: Serengeti Migration Camp has a fantastic spot in the northern Serengeti. Around July-August you can usually catch the migration here as it heads north; then around November you have a good chance of seeing it heading south. Either way, the huge herds of wildebeest make this a highly exciting time to be here.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for wildlife safaris in Tanzania
Children
Attitude towards children: Serengeti Migration Camp will happily accept children.
Age restrictions: There are no age restrictions at Serengeti Migration Camp.
Activities: Serengeti Migration Camp can provide child-minding. Though parents should be aware that the child minder will be a member of the house-keeping team, and will not be professionally trained.
Equipment: There are cot and highchairs.
Generally recommended for children: Yes.
Notes: Parents should be aware that this is a wildlife area and the camp is not fenced. Children should be supervised at all times and should not walk around the camp alone.
Central communications
Communications: Serengeti Migration Camp does have a landline and internet – however this is for office use only, or in case if an emergency.
TV & radio: There is no TV or radio.
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: The managers are first-aid trained and have a first-aid box for minor injuries. For any serious incidents, the camp has links with flying doctors to Nairobi.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: There are 10 askaris (guards) at the camp, who will escort you to and from your room at night.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers in the main areas; the staff all trained to use them.
Extras
Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: Laundry is included – it is machine washed and tumble dried.
Money: Serengeti Migration Camp can exchange small amounts – but it would need to be less than $100.
Accepted payment: Serengeti Migration Camp will accept Mastercard and Visas with a charge of 3%. However they cannot accept Amex.
Travellers' cheques are accepted and there is no charge. Cash is accepted in US dollars and Tanzanian shillings.
Serengeti Migration Camp review
In most aspects Migration was excellent, they are outstanding particularly in service. The negative was the kitchen. The food was ok but really only between average to good. As a negative example, on...
Serengeti Migration Camp review
We have to disagree with Expert Africa's comment re Migration Camp!
Rooms were extremely comforatble, staff friendly and helpful (Jackson and Julius get special mention) and food excellent. Rat...
We want you to understand more about Serengeti Migration Camp. We're also confident that a trip there with us cost you the same or less than booking it any other way, even directly. So follow the links below.
Camp homepage This is Elewana's homepage - the owners of Migration Camp - although it's information is not as detailed as one might have hoped for, it does have a slide show of the camp
